Going simpler with netbook and ease the digital divide
(CC photo by flickr.com/photos/jeffersonsiow/3316148838)
My girlfriend just bought a Lenovo S10 netbook after someone she knows bought her old Lenovo laptop for her son.
Actually we have thought about getting a netbook for a while, but the thing that held back buying decision was tiny screen and keyboard size. We tried many netbooks at stores and felt quite hesitant. However the situation brought us to the decision to get one, and Lenovo S10 with its 10-inch screen and solid build easily exceed other brands' appeal. After a while I don't think the screen and keyboard size have much detrimental effect on usability and functionality if you do ordinary, simple tasks with it like web browsing, blogging, networking, word processing, and even photo management. It can become a bit frustrating if you edit photos or doing CPU intensive job such as applying Illustrator's effect. Even with it's drawback, my point is that netbook is suitable for many people. Once we bought it we don't really think about the money just spent, because it's relatively cheap - about half the price of standard, solid notebook like ThinkPad. For students or people in developing countries who just afford to get their first computer, netbook is the best thing they can get for the money. This reminds me of now-defuncted OLPC program that Thai government once almost supported. I saw many example of how students in rural area could not afford to buy a computer which is necessary for them to properly learn from outside and develop computing and internet skills which are getting more crucial in today's economy. With proper support from concerned agencies and government, bringing cheap computing equipment like netbooks to needed students should ease the digital gaps between those in the cities and those who still lack economically.
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